On Thursday, May 25, 2023, the Tampa Bay Chapter in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (TBBBA) hosted a CLE Event to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael G. Williamson.

The program served as a retrospective of his most influential decisions and was moderated by Harley Riedel, with discussions from the bankruptcy lawyers who litigated the cases including Steven Berman, Denise Dell-Powell, Daniel Fogarty, David Jennis, Donald Kirk, and Patricia Redmond, with special remarks from Father C. Timothy Corcoran, III and Hon. Catherine Peek McEwen. The Chapter also welcomed esteemed guests to the Courthouse Ballroom at Le Meridian to celebrate the life and legacy of Judge Williamson directly following the CLE. The event featured remarks by Hon. Roberta Colton, Hon. Catherine Peek McEwen, Edward Comey and Linda Williamson, with a welcome by Bankruptcy Chair, Dana Robbins and TBBBA President Barbara Hart.

The event was well attended by current and former judges of the Middle District of Florida and members of the bar, along with Judge Williamson’s former law clerks. We would like to thank the Middle District of Florida Bench Bar Fund for their contributions to this event. The Chapter extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to Judge Williamson’s family and courthouse staff for their support of this event.

Click here to view photos and read Judge McEwen's tribute to Judge Williamson.

The Tampa Bay Chapter held the 32nd Annual Elizabeth A. Kovachevich National Seminar on Federal Sentencing from May 31-June 2, 2023, at the Hilton Lake Buena Vista in Orlando. This annual national seminar brings together attorneys, judges, probation officers, law professors, and law students with an interest in federal sentencing from across the country. It is co-sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the ABA Criminal Justice Section.

This year’s program included three days of CLE presentations and panels focused on federal sentencing topics. Seminar co-chairs Katherine Yanes and Gus Centrone wish to express their appreciation to the speakers and presenters; to the law students who volunteered to assist at the Seminar, Saad Chowdhury, Callista Grabel, Rashaad Perry-Patterson, and Dominic Tuzzo; and to Christina Barteaux, who ensures that all of the pieces come together.

A special thanks to all of our sponsors: Lauro & Singer; Cozen O’Connor; Greenberg Traurig; Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A.; Kevin J. Napper, P.A; and Zuckerman Spaeder. Their generous support makes the Seminar possible.

Earlier this month, the chapter held its third annual summer law camp for high school students at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse. More than 50 students attended the camp this year, which debuted its first ever mock trial component.

During the week, the students heard presentations on a myriad of topics, including criminal investigations, the various parts of a trial and appeal, and career opportunities in the legal profession. The students also had the opportunity to attend hearings in front of Judge Covington and Judge Tuite, to tour the courthouse with representatives from the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and to participate in small group coaching workshops on how to put on a trial. The week culminated with two mock trials presided over by Judge Covington and Judge Sneed, with the students assuming the roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses, and jurors.

The chapter would like to thank the District’s Bench Bar Fund committee and the more than 50 volunteers who helped make the summer law camp possible, including judges, attorneys, law students, law enforcement, court staff, and the University of South Florida mock trial club. The summer law camp committee enjoyed watching the students put their hard work into practice and was blown away by how engaged, diligent, and talented the students were!

On Wednesday June 21, 2023, the YLD hosted over fifty attendees at its “Judicial Clerkship Panel.” The Panel included U.S. District Judge William Jung, Jounice Nealy-Brown, Lauren Pilkington-Rich, Jason Mehta, and was moderated by Beatriz Miranda. The panelists were informative and insightful, responding to questions from the moderator and audience and explaining their experiences with judicial clerkships in both the federal appellate and trial courts, and opportunities in the state courts. During the Panel, the attendees enjoyed a lunch provided by the Middle District of Florida Bench Bar Fund. The program was organized by Alison Preston, Cara Rice, and Beatriz Miranda.

please contact Erik Johanson.